Lepidosperma plant named &#39;LEP01&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘LEP01’ is a distinctive cultivar of  Lepidosperma gladiatum  which is characterized by a short plant height, dense foliage and fine-texture foliage. The new variety propagates successfully by division and tissue culture and has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Cross reference to related applications: This application claims priority to the Australian Plant Breeders Rights application number 2016/204, filed on Jul. 25, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Lepidosperma gladiatum.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Lepidosperma gladiatum disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘LEP01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘LEP01’ is a seedling selection resulting from an open-pollination of a population of unnamed Lepidosperma gladiatum plants (not patented) in Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia. In August of 2010, the inventor sowed seed collected from several of these unnamed Lepidosperma gladiatum plants and grew them to a mature size in order to evaluate for unique characteristics of commercial value. In March of 2011, the inventor discovered a seedling of Lepidosperma gladiatum which exhibited a smaller plant size and fine-textured foliage. This seedling was isolated and further evaluated to assess the uniformity and stability of the characteristics first observed. After 3 years of propagation trials, the claimed plant was selected for commercial production and given the name ‘LEP01’.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘LEP01’ was first asexually propagated in 2011 by division of the plant's crown in Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia and has since been asexually reproduced by meristematic tissue culture propagation. The distinctive characteristics of the inventive ‘LEP01’ variety have proven to be stable through five generations and clones so produced maintain the distinguishing characteristics of the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘LEP01’ is a distinctive cultivar of Lepidosperma gladiatum which is characterized by a short plant height, dense foliage and fine foliage texture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in color photographs of this type, an exemplary ‘LEP01’ specimen of approximately 12 months of age in a 250 mm nursery pot, grown at a commercial plant breeding facility in Clarendon, NSW, Australia.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in color photographs of this type, an exemplary inflorescence of ‘LEP01’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinct variety of a Lepidosperma ornamental plant known as ‘LEP01’. Plant observations were made on plants grown in Clarendon, NSW, Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed herein are based upon observations made in June of 2017 of three year-old ‘LEP01’ plants grown outdoors from rooted cuttings in 200 mm nursery pots filled with soilless potting media, maintained with granular slow release fertilizer and regularly watered with overhead irrigation. No pest and disease measures were taken.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, younger plants. ‘LEP01’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations in the environment such as season, temperature, light intensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2001 edition.

A botanical description of ‘LEP01’ and comparisons with the parent and most similar variety of common knowledge are provided below.

-   General plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Perennial evergreen sedge; rhizomatous plant             forming a dense clump of foliage.         -   Height.—60 cm as measured.         -   Width.—40 cm as measured.         -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished by dividing the             crown of the plant and also by way of meristematic tissue             culture propagation.         -   Crop time.—Time to initiate rooting is approximately 4             weeks; time to develop a rooted cutting is approximately 10             to 12 weeks. An average crop time is approximately 6 to 9             months to produce a mature and marketable 1-gallon nursery             container, beginning with a rooted cutting.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Evergreen in USDA Hardiness Zones             8 through 11; adapt to temperatures ranging from             approximately 25 degrees Fahrenheit to 110 degrees             Fahrenheit. Shade and drought tolerant once established.         -   Pest and disease susceptibility or resistance.—Neither             resistance nor tolerance to pests and diseases known to             effect Lepidosperma gladiatum have been observed. -   Roots: Densely rooting; comprised of rhizomes and fibrous roots;     distributed evenly throughout the soil profile, from shallow to     deep. Juvenile roots are yellow-white, RHS 158B, and mature roots     are greyed-yellow, RHS 161C. -   Culms:     -   -   Culm attitude.—Upright.         -   Culm aspect.—Flattened.         -   Culm length.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow-white, nearest to RHS 158C. -   Foliage:     -   -   Attachment.—Basal.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Arrangement.—Equitant.         -   Shape.—Linear; grass-like.         -   Mature leaf dimensions.—1.0 cm wide and 60 cm long, on             average.         -   Aspect.—Flattened.         -   Attitude.—Erect to slightly arching.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Sheathed.         -   Sheath color.—Brown, nearest to RHS 200A, at the base and             becoming greyed-orange towards the distal end, nearest to a             combination of RHS 166A and 166B.         -   Margins.—Knife-like.         -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Glabrous; smooth.         -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Glabrous; smooth.         -   Juvenile foliage color, adaxial surface.—Yellow-green, RHS             144A.         -   Juvenile foliage color, abaxial surface.—Yellow-green, RHS             144A.         -   Mature foliage color, adaxial surface.—Yellow-green, RHS             144A.         -   Mature foliage color, abaxial surface.—Yellow-green, RHS             144A.         -   Venation.—Parallel.         -   Vein color, adaxial surfaces.—Indistinguishable from             surrounding foliage, RHS 144A.         -   Vein color, abaxial surfaces.—Indistinguishable from             surrounding foliage, RHS 144A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Paniculate.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to early summer in             Clarendon, NSW, Australia.         -   Overall dimensions.—Up to 125 mm long, excluding the             peduncle, and 25 mm in diameter.         -   Position of inflorescence relative to foliage.—At or above             the foliage.         -   Bloom habit.—Very floriferous.         -   Spikelets.—Dimensions — Approximately 10 mm long and 2 mm in             diameter General shape — Ovate outline with an acute apex.             Quantity of spikelets per inflorescence — Numerous. Glumes —             Approximately 5 to 7 glumes are present, spirally arranged;             the lower 3 or 4 glumes are infertile; infertile glumes are             approximately 3 to 4 mm long and fertile glumes are 4 to 5             mm long; apex is bluntly acute; the texture is puberulous;             the color with pubescence removed is a combination of brown,             RHS 200B, and greyed-orange, RHS 166A.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — Up to 360 mm long and 2 mm in             diameter. Attitude — Erect to semi erect. Strength — Medium.             Texture — Smooth. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144A. -   Reproduction organs: Not observed. -   Seed: Not observed. -   Comparisons with the parent plant: Plants of the new cultivar     ‘LEP01’ exhibit a short plant height of approximately 60 cm, whereas     the seed parent, an unnamed Lepidosperma gladiatum plant, grows to     approximately 100 cm tall. ‘LEP01’ has a narrow leaf of     approximately 1 cm in width, whereas the seed parent has a wider     leaf of approximately 1.5 cm in width. -   Comparisons with the most similar variety of common knowledge:     Plants of the new cultivar ‘LEP01’ can be compared to the commercial     cultivar, Lepidosperma sp. ‘LEP01’ (not patented), in that both are     smaller than the species with a fine leaf texture. However, ‘LEP01’     exhibits light green foliage whereas the foliage of ‘LEP08’ is     darker green. The foliage of ‘LEP01’ is broader than that of     ‘LEP08’. The inflorescence of ‘LEP01’ is positioned at or above the     foliage, whereas the inflorescence of ‘LEP08’ is positioned within     the foliage. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Lepidosperma gladiatum named ‘LEP01’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 